Container



July 11, 1944. c. c. vA TR CONTAINER Filed July 25, 1942 2- Sheets-Sheet 1 I. .I u.

gwuc/wk v Clzffird C. Vatter July ll, 1944. c. c, VATT-ER 2,353,376

GONTAINER' Filed July '23, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 x Q M/ m 6 7 m w/ M L razizztzz-sua-x I 3 W M Patented July 11, 1944 A 2,353,876 comma Cliflord C. Vatter, Louisville, Ky., assignor to The Bradley 8; Gilbert Company, Louisville,

Ky., a corporation of Kentucky.

Application July 23. 1942, Serial No. 452,069 20 Claims. (01. 229-6) This invention relates to containers and has particular reference to what is generally known as a slide carton comprising an outer shell and an inner merchandise-containing slide member, which interlockstherewith.

Cartons of this type are broadly old and numerous types wherein means are provided for limiting the movement of the slide member within the shell to preclude accidental separation of shell 'and slide member have been developed. Such cartons are used to package various types oi merchandise.

My invention contemplates a carton adapted to package almost any type of merchandise, such as cigarettes, matches, cereals, tea, flour, candy, drugs, cosmetics, perfumes, etc. The carton itself may constitute a, cigarette case, tobacco pouch, pill box, cosmetic box, etc., and my improved arrangement provides a safety measure to prevent loss of commodities by spilling, etc. In certain aspects the invention is particularly suitable for packaging readily frangible merchandise such as electric light bulbs, radio tubes, etc., inasmuch as certain of its features are especially adapted to the peculiar manner in which this latter type of merchandise is handled in the ordinary course of trade. Because of what may be termed its dual adaptability to this type of merchandise, the invention is described and illustrated with particular reference to this special phase of its contemplated use.

Among the broader objects of the invention are to facilitate initial packaging of the container by enabling the merchandise to be readily positioned in the slide member and the slide member inserted quickly and easily in the outer shell, to so construct and arrange, the cooperating members associated with the outer shell and the slide member that each may be produced as a single integral unit and readily fashioned from a unit blank into usable form, and to eliminate the need for time-consuming and costly hand operations during the packaging process.

More specific objects 01. the invention are to so interrelate the means by which the slide member matically in proper relation to one another and to the remaining structure when the'slide memher is moved into the outer shell. In this way the usual need for an additional time-consuming and costly hand operation after the loaded slide member has been inserted in the shell is eliminated and in consequence the assembly is extremely practical and desirablefrom both the construction and the packaging viewpoints.-'

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that in attaining the above described objectives I have been able to so construct the slide member and its outer shell that, alter the loaded slide has been introduced into the shell and the cooperating locking members have automatically correlated themselves, the loaded slide cannot be removed from the carton without mutilating or destroying in some manner either the slide or the shell. This is an important feature in packaging certain of the merchandise contemplated particularly radio tubes and e1ectric light, bulbs.

To preclude excessive loss through guarantees on such merchandise and at the same time enable delivery of the goods to the customer in neatly packaged form, it is essential that the merchandise be so packaged'that at least the prongs oi the radio-tube or the threaded plug portion of the light bulb may be exposed for insertion ina testing socket. Obviously the package must not be mutiliated during the'movement necessary to expose these portions of the merchandise and the limited mov'e ment of the slidewithin the shell and positive look at each extreme of movement provides for this.

Such'an arrangement likewise precludes substitution of a faulty tube or bulb in the package is limited as to its movement within the shell 7 .by slight modification of the blanks from which the container is made. a

Still another object of the invention is-to provide cooperating locking members for shell-and in which new merchandise was purchased and negotation with the vendor in an effort-to induce him to make good on the guarantee. For these reasoris in particular, the invention is described in detail with reference to a combination designed for packaging a radio tube.

Various other objects and meritorious ieatures ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures, and wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates 'in plan view the blanks irom.,which the outer shell and slide member, respectively, are fashioned;

Fig. 2 illustrates the manner in which the slidemember, whether loaded or not, is inserted slide member which position themselves autoin the shell;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the loaded container, the slide being positioned at its inner limit of movement;

trated. Separated from panel I 6 by a similar fold line is a fiap or fifth panel it which is'of somewhat less width than the panels and from which, likewise separated by fold lines, extend tabs or looking strips 20 and 22.

In the particular construction illustrated, what may be termed the base of the shellis designed to be left open. At the top of panel l4 and separated therefrom by a fold line is top panel 24 from which extends a closure flap 26. At the top of panels l2 and I8, respectively, are closure flaps 23 and 30, which fiaps may be separated from the wall panels by a fold or score line. Y

The blank from which the slide member is fashioned comprises end walls 32 and 34, in which may be, respectively. openings 36 and 38 of a size suitable to the type of merchandise to be packaged. In the case of radio tubes for which the illustrated container is designed, the opening 38 is larger than opening 36, but the two cooperate with the extremities of the radio tube to accurately and positively position the same in a manner which will be described more in detail hereinafter.

Separating the end walls and joined thereto by fold lines is a side wall 43 and it is important to note that the side wall 40 is of less width than the opposite side wall which is formed by flaps 42 and 44. These flaps are separated from end walls 32 and 34, respectively, by fold lines and include slits 46 and 48 forming cooperating tabs when the slits are interengaged to position component sections 42 and 44 of the side wall opposite wall 40. Flaps Ill and 52 extend from opposite sides of end wall 32 and are delineated by fold lines. Flaps 54 and 53 extend similarly from opposite sides of end wall 34.

It is important to note that side wall 40 is not only of less width than the opposite composite side wall formed of component sections 42 and 44, which are of the same width as end walls 32 and 34, but is also of less width than the said end walls, and the corners of end walls 32 and 34 are die-cut during the stamping operation to provide diagonal margins 53 and 60 extending at an angle of approximately Integral with side wall 40 intermediate the extremities thereof and on the sameside as diagonals 58 and 60 is a locking finger 62, the upper and-lower ends of which may be notched as indicated at 34. This locking finger cooperates in a manner to be explained in detail more fully hereinafter with the locking slot formed between the tabs 20 and 22 when the shell has been fashioned from the blank.

In fashioning the shell from the blank illustrated in Fig. 1, panel I 0 is lapped over fiap l8 so that its free margin substantially coincides with the fold line by which flap I8 is joined to panel l8 and secured, as by adhesive, wire stitching, or otherwise, to the outside face of said flap, leaving the tabs 20 and 22 free. One way of readily accomplishing this step is to coat the outside face of flap IS with adhesive to which the inside face of panel l0 will readily adhere when superimposed thereon.

While flap l8, as has been stated, is somewhat narrower than the wall panels i0, l2, l4 and it of the shell, tabs 20 and 22 are of a width somewhat greater than the'difference in width between fla I 8 and the shell wall panel superimposed thereon. For this reason tabs 20 and 22 during the securement of panel ID to fiap It will abut the immediately adjacent panel I 2 and assume a diagonal position across that corner of the fashioned shell formed by the juncture of walls 10 and I2. This is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 and the angle asssumed is approximately 45.

It should be noted that adjacent ends of tabs 20 and 22 are notched as indicated at 66 and form the ends of a locking slot in which finger 82 of the slide member engages when the latter is inserted in the shell. The top panel and closure flaps 24, 26, 23 and 30 may be closed before'inserting the loaded slide member through the open end of the container. A particular advantage is that the loaded slide may be inserted from either end, since the locking action is identical for eQther direction of insertion.

As has already been briefly indicated, the slide member is fashioned from the blank illustrated in Fig. 2 and broadly designated 13 by folding along the lines provided therefor and engaging slits 48 to form of flaps 42 and 44 a composite side wall opposite the side wall 40. When packaging ber so that by grasping one of them, or the object loaded into the slide member, the slide may readily be moved back and forth in the shell when desired. The tube, as most clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, is loaded into the slide during fashioning of the latter into the form shown in Fig. 2. The single terminal 68 at the upper extremity of the tube is inserted into opening 36 of the upper end wall 32 and, when the slide member is completely fashioned by forming the same around the tube so positioned, the contact prongs III at the lower end of the tube will extend through opening 38 in lower end wall 34.

The loade slide is positioned in such manner that the die-cut diagonals 58 and 60 of its end walls are aligned with the tabs 20 and 22 which form the locking groove. It is then moved into the bottom of the shell and, when the locking finger 82 reaches tab 22, which preferably extends to the extreme bottom of the shell, the said finger will be cammed, or may be positively moved bya light pressure of the packaging operator's finger, slightly inwardly against the inherent resiliency of the material of which the slide member is made, such as cardboard, until such time as the said finger has passed the inner extremity of tab 22. The die-out margins of the slide member and walls fit snugly against tab 22, but permit smooth movement therealong. On continued movement of the loaded slide into the shell, the resiliency of locking finger 82 will force the same outwardly intoalignment with its integral end wall 40, whereupon said finger will 6. 91; extreme of movement of the slide within the shell, since the tapered portion of the finger rides over the tapered portion of the locking groove ends. The'tabs 20 and 22 in the form illustrated. herein have been positioned in such manner as to limit downward sliding movement of the loaded slide in the shell to such point (see particularly Fig. as will completely. expose the contact prongs 10, thereby permitting ready insertion of the tube in a testing socket without removal of the tube from its'package. Complete removal of the tube from its package would require mutilation of one or the other of the cooperating locking members, the finger 62 or tabs 20 or 22.

The modified forms of shell and slide member illustrated in Figs. 6-10 differ from the shell and slide member hitherto described only as to a few structural features. Referring particularly to Fig. 6. it will be noted that a single tab." of

shell blank A is joined to the fifth panel or fiap' ment by virtue of the additional strength of the locking slot. While cartons for packaging such articles as radio tubes need only provide for mutilation of one or the other locking member on complete removal of the slide member from within its shell, many types of articles which may be packaged in my improved cartonwould not contemplate complete removal of the slide member from within the shell at any time and for that reason a stronger, more positive locking engagement between locking finger and slot is desirable under such circumstances.

The slide member of this particular modification, broadly designated B, differs from that illustrated in Figs. 1-5 in that the die-cut corners of end walls 32 and 34 are rounded as indicated at 16 and 18, instead of squared ,to form a diagof the slide member than that present in the initially described modification and for that reason there is less frictional resistance between the two members as the loaded slide is inserted in the shell.

In this form the locking finger 62 is extended in reverse duplicate or mirror form as indicated at 80. The extended portion. may be folded'back alongthe fold line 82 and adhered or secured in some manner to one face of finger 62 and the adjoining portion of side wall 40 to form a locking finger of (double thickness and consequently substantially'increased strength and rigidity.

This type of locking finger in cooperation with the form. of locking slot illustrated herein and providing full marginal contact with the finger is more readily adapted to packaging merchandise which is to be continuously retained in the package until consumed, and therefore the, shell and slide member are subjecir to repeated relative movement during opening and closing of the package.

A feature of importance willbe noted from examination of Figs. 3 and 8. It is there apparent that the flaps 50 and 52 are so proportioned that,

into the shell and interlocked therewith, the extremities of flaps 50 and 52 when the loaded slide is at its upper limit of movement lie substantially fiush with the closed upper end of the shell or carton. Likewise is this true of flaps 54 and 56, which terminate substantially flush with the open end of the shell when the slide member is at its upper limit of movement.

By virtue of this-arrangement an extremely fragile piece of merchandise, such as a radio tube or a light bulb, is suported upon what may be regarded as a suspended platform during shipment and when not in use. Regardless of which end of the shell rests upon a supporting surface, support for the merchandise is through the out-- wardly extending flaps at each extremity of the slide member. These form a resilient supporting medium which absorbs shock and is most effective in preventing rupture or damage to the delicate filaments of a radio tube or an incandescent lighting bulb.

Having thus described certain modifications of my improved carton, various other arrangements falling within the scope of the inventive concept will be apparent to those skilled in the art and for that reason I wish to limit myself only within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A slide carton comprising an outer shell member, said shell member including a portion positioned inside the wall thereof having a slot extending along a' portion of the length of the shell but terminating short of its ends, and a merchandise-containing member slidably received therein, said slide member including a finger engageable in: said slot to thereby limit the relative sliding movement of the two members.

2. A slide carton comprising an outer shell member, said shell member including a slot extending in spaced relation to and along the inside of a wall thereof for a portion of its length but terminating short of its ends, and a merchandise-containing member slidably received therein, said slide member including a finger engageable in said slot to thereby limit the relative sliding movement of the two members.

3. A slide carton comprising a substantially rectangular outer shell member, said shell member including spaced strips extending diagonally across one corner of the shell to form a slot extending along a portion of the length of said shell, and a merchandise-containing member slidably received therein, said slide member in.. cluding a finger engageable in said slot to thereby limit the relative sliding movement of the two members.

4. A slide carton comprising an outer shell member substantially rectangular in cross-section, said shell member being comprised of five wall panel sections to form one double wall, the inner panel of said double wall being slightly narrower than the outer panel and secured thereto, spaced locking strips extending from the margin of said inner panel diagonally across the adjacent corner of said shell to form a locking slot. and a merchandise-containing member slidably received therein, said slide member including a finger engageable in said slot to thereby limit the relative sliding movement of the two members.

5. A slide carton comprising an outer shell member, said shell including a portion positioned inside the wall thereof having a slot extending along a portion of the length of the shell but terminating short of its ends, and a merchandisecontaining member slidably received therein, said slide member including a finger resilient in a Plane normal to said slot engageable therein to thereby limit the relative sliding movement of the two members.

6. A slide carton'comprising an outer shell member, said shell including a portion positioned inside the Wall thereof having a slot extending along a portion of the length of the shell but terminating short of its ends, and a merchandise-containing member including a side wall slidably received therein, said slide member including a finger lying in the same plane with and constituting a portion of said side wall enageable in said slot to thereby limit the relative sliding movement 01 the two members.

'7. A slide carton comprising an outer shell member including side walls forming a corner,

said shell member including locking strips extending diagonally across said corner in spaced relation to one another to thereby i'orm aslot extending along a portion of the length of the carton, and a merchandise-containing member slidably received therein, said slide member including a finger engageable in said slot to thereby limit the relative sliding movement or the two members.

8.-A slide carton comprising an outer shell member substantially rectilinear in cross-section, said shell member including locking strips extending diagonally across the same corner or the carton in spaced relation to one another to thereby form a slot extending along a portion or the length or said wall, and a merchandise-containing member slidably received therein, said slide member including a resilient finger engageable in said 'slot to thereby limit the relative sliding movement or the two members.

9. A slide carton comprising an outer shell member including side walls forming a corner,

said shell member including locking strips extending diagonally across said corner in spaced relation to one another to thereby form a slot extending along a portion of the length of said wall, and a merchandise-containing member including a side wall slidably received therein, said slide member including a finger lying in a plane wall engageable in said slot to thereby limit the relative sliding movement of the two members,

'11. A slide carton comprising an outer shell member, said shell member including a slot extending in spaced relation to and along the inside of a wall thereof for a portion of its length but terminating short oi! its ends, and a merchandise-containing member slidably received therein, said slide member including a finger resilient in a plane normal to said slot engageable therein to thereby limit the relative sliding movement of the two members.

12. A slide carton comprising a substantially rectangular outer shell member, said shell member including spaced strips extending diagonally across one corner of the shell to iorm a slot extending along a portion oi! the length of said shell, and a merchandise-containing member slidably received therein, said slide member including a finger resilient in a plane normal to said slot engageable therein to thereby limit the thereto, spaced locking strips extending from' the margin of said inner panel diagonally across the adjacent'corner of said'shell to form a looking slot, and a merchandise-containing member slidably received therein, said slide member including a finger resilient in a plane normal to said slot engageable therein to thereby limit the .reiative sliding movement of the two members.

14. A slide carton comprising an outer shell member, said shell member including a slot extending in spaced relation to and along the inside of a wall thereof for a portion of its length but terminating short of its ends, and a merchandise-containing member including a side wall slidably received therein, said slide member including a, finger lying in the same plane with and constituting a portion of said'side wall engageable in said slot to thereby limit the'relative sliding movement of the two members.

15. A slide carton comprising a substantially rectangular outer shell member, said shell member including spaced strips extending diagonally across one corner of the shell toform a slot extending along a portion of the length of said shell, and a merchandise-containing member ineluding a side wall slidably received therein, said slide member including a finger lying in the same plane with and constituting a portion of said side wall engageable in said slot to thereby limit the relative sliding movement of the two members.

16. A slide carton comprising an outer shell member substantially rectangular in cross-section, said shell member being comprised of five wall panel section to form one double wall, the inner panel of said double wall being slightly narrower than the outer panel and secured thereto, spaced locking strips extending from the margin oi. said inner panel diagonally across the adjacent comer of said shell to form a locking slot, and a merchandise-containing member including a side wall slidably received therein, said slide member including a finger lying in the same plane with and constituting a portion of said side wall engageable in said slot to thereby limit the relative sliding movement of the two members.

17. A blank for a slide carton shell comprising five aligned wall panels separated by weakened lines, tour of said panels being equal in width and area, one end panel being of less width than the others and extending along its free margin into marginally spaced tabs of substantially equal width joined thereto by weakened lines, the combined width of said end panel and tabs being somewhat greater than the width of each of the other four panels.

18. A blank for a slide carton shell comprising fiveaiigned wall panels separated by weakened lines, tour of said panels being equal in width and area, one end panel being of less width than the others and extending along its free margin into a marginal tab joined thereto by a weakened line, the combined width of said panel and said tab being somewhat greater than the width of each of the other four panels, and a slot in said tab.

19. A slide carton comprising a polygonal outer shell member and a merchandise-containing member including a side wall slidably received therein, one of said members including a locking strip notched between its ends to thereby form a slot extending along a portion of its length, theother of said members including a finger strip engageable in said slot to thereby limit the relative sliding movement of the two members, the strip associated with the shell member bein positioned diagonally across one corner thereof to facilitate engagement with the strip associated with the other member.

20. A slide carton comprising an outer shell member and a merchandise-containing member including a side wall slidably received therein,

one of said members including a locking strip notched between its ends to thereby form a slot extending along a portion of its length, the other of said members including a finger strip engageable in said slot to thereby limit the relative sliding movement of the two members, the strip associated with the shell member being positioned interiorly thereof and in spaced relation to the adjacent wall thereof to facilitate engagement with the strip associated with the other member.

' CLIFFORD C. VA'I'I'ER.

. cnnnmcm: OF comcmon. Patent No. 2,555,376. July 11, 191 1;.

- cnmonnc. vm'm.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring eorrectionasfollows: Page 1, second colmim, line 21, after the word "contemplated" insert a comma; line 39, for "negotation' read -negotiation-; page 2, second co1umn,'line 62, for "die-out read --die-cut-; page 14., second column, line 11.5, claim 16, for "eection' read -sectione--; page 5, second column, line 1, beginning with 20. A slide carton" strike out all to and including the word and period "member." in line 114., comprising claim 20; in the heading to the printed specification, line "I, for "20 Claims" read -l9 Claims"; a that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the ame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of September, A. D. 191m.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

